Daily Ticket: The Blog

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. C.J. Wilson, who starts Game 1 of the ALDS against Tampa Bay today, takes over the postseason spot that Cliff Lee held down last season (4:07 p.m., TBS).

2. Gil LeBreton: Lee was the player the Rangers most wanted to sign last off-season, but the acquisitions of Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli are why they are division champs again.

3. Rangers notes: Ron Washington said he will go with three catchers to give him versatility instead of having one more reliever in the bullpen.

4. Dez Bryant missed practice Thursday because of a thigh bruise, leaving the potential for him to miss Sunday's game with the Dallas Cowboys already thin at wide receiver.

5. Cowboys notes: Tony Romy said his ribs are feeling better, although he still is not at 100 percent.

6. TCU seems to be a good fit for potential expansion models the Big 12 is putting together.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 3, Los Angeles Angels 1: Mike Napoli homered twice -- including a tie-breaking two-run shot in the ninth -- as the Rangers finished with a club-record 96 wins and grabbed the No. 2 seed and home-field advantage in the postseason. The Rangers will host the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the ALDS at 4:07 p.m. Friday.

2. Rangers notes: Derek Holland has been named the Game 2 starter, followed by Colby Lewis and then Matt Harrison.

3. Randy Galloway: You have to pass to win in the NFL, but the Dallas Cowboys' young receivers apparently don't know the playbook.

4. The Cowboys defense has its swagger back, thanks largely to Rob Ryan's schemes and the confidence he has instilled in players.

5. Cowboys notes: Tony Romo said the receivers will be prepared and ready to go on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

6. Jimmy Burch: To survive, the Big 12 needs to expand by taking teams from other conferences.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 10, Los Angeles Angels 3: The Rangers hit five home runs and Ian Kinsler reached the 30-30 mark for the second time in his career. The Rangers end the regular season tonight. A win or a Detroit Tigers loss would give them home-field advantage in the first round (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Ron Washington still isn't say who will start after C.J. Wilson, but indications point to Derek Holland pitching Game 2, followed by Colby Lewis in Game 3 and Matt Harrison if there is a Game 4.

3. Rangers notes: Nelson Cruz, who homered Tuesday night, is starting to feel comfortable at the plate again just in time for the postseason.

4. Dallas Cowboys notes: Jerry Jones was singing the praises Tuesday of Jason Garrett and Tony Romo.

5. With Casey Pachall at quarterback, the TCU offense hasn't missed a beat.

6. Big 12 athletic directors met Tuesday and are saying that proving the conference is stable now is the key to future expansion.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Dallas Cowboys 18, Washington Redskins 16: Dan Bailey kicked six field goals on a frustrating night for the Cowboys' offense, but still the Cowboys are in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC East.

2. Randy Galloway: Thank goodness Bailey was on hand to bail out the Cowboys' offense.

3. Gil LeBreton: On a night only a member of the Ryan family could truly love, Rob Ryan's defense was everything it needed to be.

4. Texas Rangers 4, Los Angeles Angels 3: C.J. Wilson was limited to only two winnings, but the bullpen enabled the Rangers to stay one game ahead of the Detroit Tigers for the American League's second seed and home-field advantage in the first round.

5. Rangers notes: Ron Washington said he won't attempt to "out-smart" baseball as he sets his playoff rotation.

6. Texas A&M's departure for the Southeastern Conference could mean the end of the A&M-Texas rivalry.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas A&M has officially left the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference.

2. The Dallas Cowboys host the Washington Redskins tonight in their first home game of the season. Beginning their third year at Cowboys Stadium, the Cowboys have yet to turn their new home into a home-field advantage.

3. Gil LeBreton: Just the possibility that Tony Romo might have missed tonight's game makes us wonder how this year's Cowboys would fare without Romo.

4. Texas Rangers 12, Seattle Mariners 5: The Rangers finished off the home portion of the regular season in a front of crowd that helped break the franchise's single-season attendance record. The Rangers are in Los Angeles tonight to face the Angels.

5. Rangers notes: Ron Washington has set his playoff rotation, but he isn't making it public.

6. TCU notes: Gary Patterson refuses to join the debate on whether the Horned Frogs should desire a move to the Big 12.

-- David Thomas

 

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Oakland Athletics 4, Texas Rangers 3: The A's avoided being swept, but the Rangers' magic number still dropped to two when the Los Angeles Angels lost. The Rangers end the home part of the regular-season schedule with a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners that begins tonight (7:05 p.m., KTXA/Channel 21).

2. Rangers notes: Reliever Mark Lowe has a hamstring strain and is doubtful for the first round of the playoffs.

3. Randy Galloway: Don't mess with the baseball gods by saying who the Rangers should want to play in the first round, but the Detroit Tigers are the team the Rangers shouldn't want to play.

4. Don Beebe resigned as Big 12 commissioner and school presidents are trying to piece together a TV rights commitment that make it more difficult for schools to leave.

5. Tony Romo isn't participating in practice because of his fractured rib and punctured lung, but all signs point to him playing Monday night.

6. Cowboys notes: Left guard Derrick Dockery is the latest with an injury, and he'll miss Monday's game.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 3, Oakland Athletics 2: Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton hit solo home runs in the eighth inning as the Rangers' magic number dropped to three. The Rangers and A's end their three-game series this afternoon in Oakland (2:35 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Big 12 presidents are scheduled to meet by teleconference today to address the league's stability. Removing Don Beebe at commissioner is one expected move.

3. Randy Galloway: Oklahoma tried to stand up to Texas, but failed to accomplish what Nebraska and Texas A&M had accomplished before them.

4. TCU notes: TCU officials were among the Big East schools announcing their intentions to remain with the conference, although they did say they would have a legal basis for leaving if there are more changes to the conference.

5. Longtime Dallas Star Mike Modano said he is retiring after 21 seasons in the NHL.

6. The good start by defensive end Jason Hatcher is evidence of the changes Rob Ryan has made in the Dallas Cowboys defense.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 7, Oakland Athletics 2: Adrian Beltre hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Derek Holland held the A's to one run and two hits over seven innings. The Rangers' magic number is down to four games. They play in Oakland again tonight (9:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest and ESPN).

2. Rangers notes: Nelson Cruz has struggled since returning from the disabled list, and Ron Washington's focus is on getting Cruz's bat going.

3. The Pac-12 announced it will not be expanding, ending all possibilities of any Big 12 teams leaving for the Pac-12.

4. Gil LeBreton: The show of solidarity by remaining Big East schools is a source of relief for TCU.

5. TCU is working hard to repair a defense that has been surprisingly vulnerable to big plays.

6. Dallas Cowboys notes: Tony Romo is receiving widespread praise for Sunday's performance.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Derek Holland takes the mound for the Texas Rangers tonight in Oakland, and he has made himself into a key component in the rotation (9:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. The Dallas Cowboys' ability to overcome key injuries to defeat the San Francisco 49ers demonstrates Jason Garrett's emphasis on backup players -- "next starters," he calls them -- always being ready to contribute.

3. Cowboys notes: In addition to his fractured rib, Tony Romo has a partially punctured lung. But he still is expected to play Monday against the Washington Redskins.

4. The regents at Oklahoma and Texas have given authorization to their respective university presidents to look into joining other conferences.

5. Big 12 notes: Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said the best thing for Big 12 teams would be to stay together.

6. TCU's unbeaten volleyball team, at 13-0 now, hosts eighth-ranked Texas tonight.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers 9, Cleveland Indians 1: Josh Hamilton hit a grand slam as part of an eight-run fourth inning, and the Rangers maintained their three-game lead. The three-game series ends tonight in Arlington (7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

2. Randy Galloway: The locals are down on Tony Romo, but look around the NFL and you'll see that the Dallas Cowboys aren't so bad off at quarterback.

3. Romo held a 12-minute interview with the session with the media Wednesday in which he addressed his mistakes in Sunday's game. Here are the highlights.

4. Cowboys notes: Derrick Dockery is close to earning a starting spot on the offensive line.

5. TCU notes: Quarterback Casey Pachall is still learning, but he's already displaying strong leadership skills.

6. Big 12 Insider: Despite everything going on around the Oklahoma Sooners, you can fully expect Bob Stoops to have his top-ranked team ready for Saturday's game at No. 5 Florida State.

-- David Thomas